Technology Planning in Uncertain Financial Times

My district was in a bind when we thought that our primary source of technology funding, the Enhancing Education through Technology (EETT) funds, were going to disappear. Weâ€™re breathing easier now, but whatâ€™s going to happen next year?

Although I donâ€™t have a crystal ball, itâ€™s safe to predict that this is not the last time that technology funds will be placed on the chopping block. This is why itâ€™s critical that districts have a shared vision for where technology use fits into the overall instructional plan and then spread costs across multiple funding sources.

Unfortunately, districts often sustain spending patterns based purely on past practice. Now is the time to examine allocations for categorical and general funds to see if there isnâ€™t a better way to structure the budget to include technology-related expenditures. For example, could software and e-books be purchased using textbook funds?

But remember, these decisions should be driven by a clear vision of how technology use will enhance learning, not by a shopping list of hardware and software.